Tag Archives: Negotiate

How Do You Respond to a “take it or Leave It” Demand?

What do you do when the other party gives you a firm but polite “take-it-or-leave-it”? There are options available. My advice is to test it hard—their position may not be as firm as it looks. The best approach to testing … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Negotiation Probes

Your negotiating leverage is determined by how much you know about the other party’s attitudes, preferences and position. This is true whether you are selling something, buying something, or dealing with a project, manufacturing plan, delivery schedule, a budget, or … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Scrambled Eggs: How to Defend Against Disorder

It is wiser to simplify matters than to confuse them. “Scrambled eggs” does the opposite. Scrambling is a negotiation technique, it deliberately mixes things up for tactical reasons. Scrambling can be used to forestall a deadlock, make the other person … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Negotiating With Emotions

Emotions play a powerful role in negotiating because people find it difficult to tolerate unexpected outbursts. When the other party lets loose, we find it hard to cope. Some people try to get their own way by yelling, screaming, and … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Negotiating Threats

Have you ever been threatened during a negotiation? You probably have received more negotiating threats than you realize. Most often negotiating threats are not of a violent nature during a negotiation. They come in the form of an “or else.” … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Resist Like Water

The Chinese have a saying, “It is well to resist like water.” When water is put under pressure or suddenly made to flow into unfamiliar channels, it falls back. Then, in its own good time, it seeps and creeps back … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Keep Negotiating Tactics Flexible

There is no right negotiating tactic if you have the wrong strategy or policy. Strategic objectives and priorities are more important than tactics. Yet history is full of great strategies that were defeated by poor negotiating tactics. The two go … Continue reading

Posted in Negotiation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off